| Volume 5, Issue 26, {june 30, 2006 | |||
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Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress has an obligation to provide congressional oversight of the executive branch. Congressional oversight prevents waste and fraud, ensures executive compliance with the law, and evaluates executive performance. However, under the current leadership, this Republican Congress has abandoned this responsibility by failing to conduct meaningful investigations of allegations of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.
In 2004, $25 billion of federal government spending went absolutely unaccounted for, according to the Treasury Department. The Bush administration was unable to determine where the money had gone or how it was spent. In 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that 19 of 24 federal agencies could not produce a full audit of their financial spending as directed under the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act.
By failing to serve as a check and balance over the executive branch, this Republican Congress has also failed the American taxpayer. I believe this President and this administration must be held accountable for our massive federal debt, which is currently $8.46 trillion.
American taxpayers simply deserve to know how their money is spent. They deserve answers as to why their children and grandchildren will have to foot the bill for this Republican Congress’ fiscal mismanagement of the federal budget. This includes answers as to why this administration is spending $279 million every 24 hours on the war in
It also includes an explanation as to why the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to pay $250,000 a month to store almost 10,000 mobile homes at the
The time has come to hold this administration accountable for its reckless behavior. I believe Congress must act now to renew its constitutional responsibility to serve as a check and balance for overspending, waste, fraud and financial abuse within the executive branch.
That is why I have cosponsored legislation that would require Congress to conduct hearings on spending and hold the administration officials accountable. I cosponsored House Resolution 841, which would require congressional hearings within 60 days under a variety of circumstances such as when Inspector General reports identify waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement of more than $1 million or when the Government Accountability Office names an agency “high risk” for mismanagement.
I also cosponsored H.R. 5315, the Accountability in Government Act of 2006, which requires that each federal agency produce an audit within two years that complies with the standards established in the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996. It also requires that the Senate hold re-confirmation hearings on any Cabinet-level official whose agency cannot fully account for its spending within two years. Wasteful government spending must stop. The time has come to restore common sense and fiscal discipline to our nation's government. As your United States Representative, I am committed to holding this administration accountable and putting a stop to wasteful government spending. The legislation I am cosponsoring will put our nation back on the track toward balancing the budget and restoring accountability. | |||
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Internship in Throughout Ross’s five-week summer internship program, Watson attended committee hearings and legislative briefings, assisted members of the congressional staff on various projects, and gave Fourth District constituents tours of the United States Capitol. Ross’s internship program provides young and upcoming leaders the opportunity to understand the inner-workings of the federal government first hand. “My internship program in Katie Watson, a Watson was chosen to participate in Ross’s summer internship program through a selection process where she competed with other young people from across the district. More information on Congressman Ross’s internship program is available at www.house.gov/ross or by calling (800) 223-2220.
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Internship in Throughout Ross’s five-week summer internship program, Ribble attended committee hearings and legislative briefings, assisted members of the congressional staff on various projects, and gave Fourth District constituents tours of the United States Capitol. Ross’s internship program provides young and upcoming leaders the opportunity to understand the inner-workings of the federal government first hand. “My internship program in Sarah Ribble, a Magnolia native, is a junior at the Ribble was chosen to participate in Ross’s summer internship program through a selection process where she competed with other young people from across the district. More information on Congressman Ross’s internship program is available at www.house.gov/ross or by calling (800) 223-2220.
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1-800-223-2220 mike.ross@mail.house.gov or www.house.gov/ross |
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